Andhra Pradesh

Act tough on ragging: Collector

MACHILIPATNAM: Krishna district Collector Shailaja Ramaiyer on Tuesday advised officials and principals of educational institutions to take stringent steps to control ragging.

She convened a meeting with principals of engineering and medical colleges in the district and police officials to discuss about the steps to be taken to control ragging. She said that the laws pertaining to ragging should be conveyed to the students through prospectuses and handbooks. The college managements should collect undertakings from students at the time of admission that they would not resort to ragging. The telephone numbers of principal and other faculty members should be displayed on the college notice boards, so that students could lodge complaints against ragging.

Ms. Ramaiyer advised principals to celebrate freshers’ day within 15 days of the reopening of the colleges. She released a poster on ragging.

District Superintendent of Police D. Ramakrishnaiah said that accused persons could be sentenced to imprisonment for a period ranging from six months to 10 years, based on the seriousness of the offence, he said. “College principals too are liable for punishment if they fail to prevent ragging on their premises,” he said.

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